Fiber-rinsing machine.



c. a. SARGENT & H. HARRISON.

FIBER RINSING MACHINE.

Patented June 6, 1916.

96mm .x

KTNITED STATES PATENT @EFTQE.

CHARLES G. SARGENT, OF WESTFORZD, AND HARRY HARRISON, 0F LO'W'ELL, MASSA- CHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS T0 0. G. SARGENTS SONS CORPORATION, OF GRANITEVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

'FIBER-RINSING- NEACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1916.

Application filed January 3, 1916. Serial No. 69,819,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES G. Sancnwr and HARRY HARRISON, citizens of the United States, said SARGENT residing at Vestford, and said HannIsoN residing at Lowell, both in the county of lvliddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Fiber-Rinsing Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for cleaning fiber, particularly cotton fiber, but it is capable of use for cleaning wool and other fibers.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide in combination with the usual carrying rake or other carrier, with which a wool washing machine is provided, means whereby the fiber will be caused to be immersed in the liquor positively and repeatedly before it reaches the rake or carrier; also to provide an improved form of immersing or ducking device and an im proved construction of ducking cylinder whereby it is made up in parts in such a way that the sections of ducking teeth can be removed independently of each other and replaced very readily.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improvement in the circulation of the liquor so as to prevent the churning up of the liquor at a point near the screen and thus allow the solid body of particles to separate more readily.

Referenceis to be had to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a side view partly in section of a preferred embodiment of this invention; Fig. 2 is a plan of one of the ducking drums; Fig. 3 is an end view of the same on enlarged scale; and Fig. 4 is a sectional view of one of the cylinder supporting hubs on an enlarged scale.

The invention is shown as applied to a washing bowl 10 having a construction similar to that which is familiar in wool washing machines, and provided with a rake 11 for moving the fiber along the screen 12 from the intake to the discharge end of the bowl. The rake is shown as having teeth of varying length at the end to cooperate with the inclined end of the screen. Below this screen 12 are a series of partitions 13. It is well known that partitions have been provided under screens in wool washing machines, but in this case there is an important dlfi'erence. The transverse partitions 13 eX- tend up substantially to the screen 12 while they are provided with passages or spaces at the bottom through which the liquor can clrculate. In this way it will be understood that the liquor is forced along above the screen by the carrier or rake 11 and by other means toward the discharge end of the tank. It flows back underneath the screen, and by this construction the central part of the tank just under the screen is divided up into compartments where the liquor is comparatively quiescent. The current flows along the bottom of the tank toward the back, thus tending to take the solid materials along toward the back and the quiet liquor near the screen serving to permit the separation of these materials.

For the purpose of thoroughly immersing the fiber when it is deposited on the screen by any usual means, we provide a plurality of ducking cylinders between the point at which the fiber is discharged into the bowl and from which the rake 11 takes it. The mechanism for driving the machine is not shown in full but power is transmitted to a pulley 15 and from that by means of gears 16 to the first drum 1?. A belt or chain 18 transmits the motion of rotation from this to the other drums 17 17 and 17. It will be noted that the pulleys con- .nected with these drums over which this belt travels are of different sizes and consequently the drums rotate at diflerent surface speeds.

Each drum, of course, is mounted on a shaft as 38. On this shaft are secured a plurality of hubs 19. The hubs are shown as secured in place by set-screws which are reached through a depression 20 in each hub. Each of these hubs is provided with a central cylindrical portion 21 and with two edge cylindrical portions 22. Each one is also shown as provided with six arms 23 integral with the hub and projecting therefrom radially. In the present case these hubs serve to support cylinders 24 having the same external diameter as the cylindrical surface 21 and the same internal diameter as the cylindrical surface 2:2. The ends of the cylinders, therefore, project over these hubs and rest on them, forming a continuous cylindrical surface with the surface 21. These cylinders preferably are made of brass or copper. When the parts so far described are assembled on the shaft they are secured together in any desired way, as by means of plates secured near the ends of the shaft 38, but they are lined up so that the several projections 23 are in alinement. ()n each set of projections 23 are fastened radial vanes 27, and in the present case each alternate set of projections is provided with sections 29, each having teeth 30 thereon for forcing the material down into the liquor. These are curved rearwardly with respect to the direction of rotation. It will be noted that these sections or sets of teeth are made in three lengths, in the present case, their abutting ends being provided with registering notches 31 through which bolts pass for seouring them to the arms 23. On account of this construction, whenever a tooth or section is broken that section can be removed readily and replaced without disturbing the rest of the drum. This is an important fea ture in practice as it saves a great deal of time. It will be noted that the shafts 38 are arranged along the top of the tank in such position that the ends of the curved teeth 30 project down almost to the wire screen 12.

-With the parts in partition. the cotton or other fiber is supplied to the tank at the rear end at a point behind the drum 17 where it falls on the screen. The rotation of this drum forces the fiber down and forward and it is gradually forced into position to be operated on by the next drum and so on when it is forced into position to be engaged by the reciprocating rake 11. It will be seen that the, teeth 30 engage the fiber in such a way as to force it positively under the surface of the liquor in the tank or bowl and that each particle of fiber is thoroughly immersed more than once before it gets to the rake. This is particularly important in the case of rinsing light fiber like cotton. It will be seen also that the radial vanes on the drums project into the liquor and assist in causing the current of liquor to flow along the bowl. In this way a machine is provided which will efficiently operate upon fibers of practically all kinds and subject them to a maximum degree of rinsing.

Although we have illustrated and described only a single embodiment of the invention we are aware of the fact that many modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore we do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described, or to the rinsing of any particular fibrous material, but

What we do claim is:-

1.. In a machine for rinsing fiber, the combination of a tank having a screen therein, means for moving the fiber along the screen, and means between said means and the end of the tank for forcing the fiber down into the liquor and advancing it toward the first named means, the tank having a plurality of transverse partitions extending substantially up to the screen and having passages below them to permit the flow of liquor therethrough.

2. A ducking drum for a fiber rinsing machine comprising a shaft, hubs mounted on said shaft provided with arms projecting therefrom, and ducking teeth longitudinally arranged and supported by alternate arms circumferentially, said arms being equally spaced around the drum, all arms being provided with longitudinal vanes.

3. In a fiber rinsing machine, the combi nation. with a tank, of a series of drums located substantially at the top of the tank at the intake end, each drum having a plurality of longitudinal radial vanes project-'- ing therefrom, and teeth projecting outwardly from the outer edges of some of said vanes for the purpose of engaging the fiber and forcing it down into the liquor in the tank.

-1'-. A ducking drum for a fiber rinsing machine comprising a shaft, a plurality of cylinders surrounding said shaft and spaced therefrom, hubs mounted on said shaft at the ends of said cylinders for receiving the edges of the cylinders, said hubs being pro vided with arms projecting therefrom, and ducking teeth supported by circumferentially alternate arms and arranged longitudinally said arms being equally spaced around the cylinders and each longitudinal set of arms being provided wit-h a radial vane.

A ducking drum for a fiber rinsing machine comprising a plurality of longitudinal radial vanes, and ducking teeth extending outwardly from alternate vanes.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

CHARLES G. SARGENT. HARRY HARRISON.

Qopies of 1113 patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, 1). C3 

